Woltzen was born in Roanoke, Illinois, to Johann
(1879-1946) and Mayme (Brown) Woltzen (1885-1984). Johann, or "John", was sheriff of Woodford County (IL). Gaylord played basketball
at Bradley University ('28), and joined Gallagher in 1937. He later worked in the insurance industry.

Woltzen
married Alice Looger (1906-1988) on August 3, 1932. Woltzen died in East
Peoria, Illinois, in 1995 at 90.